The Trouble with Democracy: A Citizen Speaks Out

Eric P. Mintz is an associate professor of political science and
environmental studies at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial
University of Newfoundland.

William Gairdner continues his passionate advocacy of “true”
conservatism in this critique of modern liberal democracy. Gairdner
views modern democracy (“hyperdemocracy”) as based on a combination
of secularized versions of gnosticism and millenarianism. The
collectivism inherent in Rousseau’s “general will” leads to
totalitarian democracy while the individualism of J.S. Mill leads to an
atomization of society that allows the intrusive welfare state to create
a dependent populace. Underlying both tendencies of modern democracy is
a view of human beings as “sinless” (as opposed to the traditional
Christian view of man as “sinful”), which has led to an undermining
of civil society and a rejection of the natural order, transcendent
moral values, and checks on the power of government. The troubles that
Gairdner finds with the modern world are a product not only of democracy
but also of the associated values of equality and individual freedom.
Charters of rights, in particular, are singled out for criticism for
promoting “radical egalitarianism.”

The Trouble with Democracy provides a well-written and interesting
discussion of some traditional conservative views. Most of the book is
devoted to a theologically based discussion of political philosophy
along with some historical analysis of ancient Greek and Roman
democracy. Detracting from the erudite tone is a rant concerning
abortion, homosexuality, pornography, crime, taxation, the metric
system, judges, professors, and other aspects of modern life that the
author despises. The book is also marred by the author’s tendency to
exaggerate—for example, by overstating the activism of Canadian
courts—and his limited discussion of alternatives to modern democracy.
Gairdner assumes that a strong civil society, which he seems to
associate with Christian religious organizations and the family, could
voluntarily pressure people to adopt moral and virtuous behavior. But,
given that Canada is no longer a thoroughly Christian society, one
wonders whether a strong state would be required to deal with the
“evils” that Gairdner finds in the modern world.